Eric Clapton Drummer Jim Gordon Who Murdered His Own Mother Dies Aged 77

Updated On March 18, 2024 | Published By: Bruce Wayne | In Death

Source: The Independent

Eric Clapton drummer Jim Gordon has died at the age of 77.
The musician was serving his sentence in prison for murdering his own mother.

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Jim Gordon has died at the age of 77

Influential drummer Jim Gordon has passed away at the age of 77 in California Medical Facility in Vacaville, California, on March 12, 2023.

His publicist, Bob Merlis, confirmed the news on Wednesday. The musician had been imprisoned for a long time and struggled with mental illness throughout his life.

Gordon was a famous session drummer who performed with prominent rock bands like Derek and the Dominoes, Joe Cocker, and George Harrison.

He is survived by his daughter Amy, whom he had from his first marriage.

Also, read: ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ Actor Chaim Topol, dies at age 87

Gordon was convicted for murdering his own mother

Jim Gordon battled demons inside his head throughout his entire life. On June 3, 1983, he attacked his 71-year-old mother, Osa Marie Gordon, with a hammer and then fatally stabbed her with a butcher knife and ended her life.

It wasn’t until he was arrested for that murder that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Although the court accepted that he had acute schizophrenia, he couldn’t use an insanity defense because of changes in the Californian law.

Gordon battled demons inside his own head (Source: Trend Detail News)

In 1984, he was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison. He told Rolling Stone in 1985:

“I had no interest in killing [my mother]. I wanted to stay away from her, I had no choice. It was so matter-of-fact, like I was being guided like a zombie. She wanted me to kill her, and good riddance to her.”

His paroles were denied multiple times with his first one being in 1991. But, he never attended a hearing.

Gordon was serving his sentence at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, a prison that provides medical and psychiatric treatment before his passing.

Short Bio of Jim Gordon

Jim Gordon was a highly accomplished session drummer who made a significant impact on the music industry during his career.

He was born on July 14, 1945, in California, and started playing drums in his teenage years. Soon, he became famous for his exceptional talent and versatility as a drummer, and quickly rose to prominence in the music industry.

Throughout his career, Jim played with some of the biggest names in rock music, including Eric Clapton’s band Derek and the Dominos, Joe Cocker, George Harrison, the Beach Boys, and others.

Jim Gordon with Eric Clapton (Source: Planet Radio)

Gordon was famous for his ability to play a wide range of musical styles, and was known for his powerful and expressive drumming style.

Aside from his extensive discography, Gordon is also famous for co-writing one of Clapton’s most famous track “Layla”.

However, it has been alleged that he actually plagiarized the part from a piece written by his ex-girlfriend, Rita Coolidge.

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